Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among academics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Background: The South African Government has recently implemented the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme through the school health system. For the vaccination programme to be effective, it is important to investigate the acceptability of the vaccines among university academics. The obj...

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Main Author: Muhammad E. Hoque
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: AOSIS 2015-09-01
Series:South African Family Practice
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Online Access:https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/4291
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author Muhammad E. Hoque
author_facet Muhammad E. Hoque
author_sort Muhammad E. Hoque
collection DOAJ
description Background: The South African Government has recently implemented the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme through the school health system. For the vaccination programme to be effective, it is important to investigate the acceptability of the vaccines among university academics. The objective of this study was to determine the awareness and acceptability of HPV vaccination among university academics, and to investigate whether health information increases the acceptability of the vaccines. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among academics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal — excluding medical school academics. Data were collected using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire, via an online survey. Results: It was found that most academics were aware of cervical cancer and HPV infections. The health information regarding HPV infections and vaccines had significantly increased the acceptance of HPV vaccine for their daughters (79% to 88%, p 0.05). There was a knowledge gap regarding the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. Conclusion: University academics need to be educated on this preventable disease so that they can provide accurate information to their students, who are in the high-risk population for cervical cancer.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2015-09-01
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series South African Family Practice
spelling doaj-art-ab8ba6067fe641e58fa3f6a07c9c75572025-08-20T03:47:07ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042015-09-0157510.4102/safp.v57i5.42913535Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among academics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South AfricaMuhammad E. Hoque0Graduate School of Business and Leadership, University of KwaZulu-Natal (Westville Campus), DurbanBackground: The South African Government has recently implemented the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme through the school health system. For the vaccination programme to be effective, it is important to investigate the acceptability of the vaccines among university academics. The objective of this study was to determine the awareness and acceptability of HPV vaccination among university academics, and to investigate whether health information increases the acceptability of the vaccines. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among academics from the University of KwaZulu-Natal — excluding medical school academics. Data were collected using a self-administered anonymous questionnaire, via an online survey. Results: It was found that most academics were aware of cervical cancer and HPV infections. The health information regarding HPV infections and vaccines had significantly increased the acceptance of HPV vaccine for their daughters (79% to 88%, p 0.05). There was a knowledge gap regarding the safety and effectiveness of the vaccines. Conclusion: University academics need to be educated on this preventable disease so that they can provide accurate information to their students, who are in the high-risk population for cervical cancer.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/4291awarenesscervical cancereffectivenesshealth educationwillingness
spellingShingle Muhammad E. Hoque
Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among academics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
South African Family Practice
awareness
cervical cancer
effectiveness
health education
willingness
title Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among academics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_full Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among academics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_fullStr Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among academics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among academics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_short Acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among academics at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_sort acceptability of human papillomavirus vaccination among academics at the university of kwazulu natal south africa
topic awareness
cervical cancer
effectiveness
health education
willingness
url https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/4291
work_keys_str_mv AT muhammadehoque acceptabilityofhumanpapillomavirusvaccinationamongacademicsattheuniversityofkwazulunatalsouthafrica